PC Protection

[sidkid]

Further to Ron's previous Q. Just out of interest, what benefits are there in using the paid-for Kaspersky over the free MS Security Essentials? I'm guessing there must be some.......

[VHG]

Internet Security suites (like Kaspersky) generally cover a wider range of things than "free" anti virus products.

MSE mainly does just anti-virus and malware, other free AV product JUST do anti virus.

Security suites do other things like check your email for viruses, highlight dodgy software web sites and so on, none of which MSE does.

[vivandorron]

VHG...I didn't think it was necessary for e/mails to be scanned; only their attachments which could contain a virus.

Consequently, as I have MSE which costs me nothing, I am happy that it will do as good a job as most paid for Virus Protection programmes.

Nevertheless, irrespective of whatever VP programme I had in my computer, I would immediately delete any unsolicited e/mail which has an attatchment and then do a run through with free edition of Malwarebytes.

Hopefully, I am adequately protected.

Ron.

[vivandorron]

P.S......I am Not the Ron to whom sidkid was referring.:-

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1128835.html

Ron (The other one.)

[VHG]

>>>VHG...I didn't think it was necessary for e/mails to be scanned; only their attachments which could contain a virus.

emails can be sent (and received) in two formats - plain text and HTML.

Plain text is just what it says, simple text with no fancy fonts or graphic images.

HTML email on the other hand can contain fancy colours, fonts, images, links and so on.

HTML email is the sort you may get from a company like Amazon or Tesco or other companies when you sign up for their newsletter.

But viruses and other nasties can be "hidden" inside this HTML and the HTML may run a javascript program or have dodgy "links" hidden in the HTML.

Most spam email is sent in HTML format.

So emails dont have to have an attachment to be dangerous.

[VHG]

Here is an article from 2007 to show how dangerous HTML mail can be

http://voices.washing...ml_based_email_1.html

[vivandorron]

VHG....I am not really technically minded. Nevertheless, I would suggest with respect that, as technology keeps advancing on a daily basis, things will have improved with all VP programmes since the publication of the 2007 dated article to which you have drawn attention. MSE was not released until 2009 and may well have taken into account such a position as described in the 2007 article and then 'in-built' suitable protection.

Truth is, I don't really know.

Ron.